Where to eat in Cologne

“Where should I eat in Cologne?” “Do you know a good restaurant in Ehrenfeld?” “Where in Cologne is good for brunch?” If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve asked me one of these questions and I have very lazily directed you to this page (or you might have landed here after a quick Google) – but either way, this page should help you out in finding a great restaurant in Cologne.

When it comes to finding a good place to eat, Cologne isn’t the easiest of cities to navigate. Most visitors end up in the Altstadt/Old Town, an area that no very few locals would choose for an evening meal, brunch or even a coffee. If you’re in the Altstadt/Old Town and you want a nice meal, then find the nearest tram stop and head to one of these neighbourhoods instead. 

UPDATED: JANUARY 2020

Looking for breakfast options? Check out the best brunch spots in Cologne.

The best restaurants in Cologne: Ehrenfeld

Without a doubt Cologne’s hippest neighbourhood, Ehrenfeld has more than its fair share of great cafes and restaurants, not to mention bars and clubs (if you’ve come to Cologne to party, this is where you want to be). Ehrenfeld is also the best place to go in Cologne for brunch.

Getting to Ehrenfeld: Köln-Ehrenfeld train station for the RE or S Bahn, or stops Venloer Straße/Gürtel or Körnerstraße on U Bahn lines 3 or 4.

Top choice in Ehrenfeld: Brunch at Café Goldmund is the perfect way to start your Sunday. Grab a plate of Bratkartoffeln (fried potatoes) or frisches Gemüse (fresh fruit) to share and then dig into a huge Pfannkuchen (pancake) or some tasty Rührei (scrambled eggs).

Café Goldmund: cosy neighbour café specialising in brunch, coffee and cake. Rock up early to make sure you get a table or call ahead and book. Decked out like a library inside and offers sunny outdoor seating in summer. As well as the interiors, be sure to instagram some of Ehrenfeld’s best street art outside.

Café Sehnsucht: another great brunch place in Ehrenfeld and another place that fills up quickly (NB you can’t reserve for brunch Fri/Sun). Sehnsucht has a nice rustic décor, including a working fireplace for cold wintry days.

Jaely’s: a popular restaurant on the main thoroughfare in Ehrenfeld, Jaely’s does a good variety of pizza and pasta dishes. The Marco Polo (pear and gorgonzola pizza) has earned cult-status among my group of friends. Would definitely recommend.

Bagatelle: probably the best French food in town, serving up French-style tapas, which is fantastic and surprisingly filling. The location is a bit further out of the main area of Ehrenfeld, on a quiet street but the interior feels like a nice rustic pub. There’s also another in the Südstadt.

The top restaurants in the Belgian Quarter

The Belgian Quarter is another very cool area in Cologne. Closer to the city centre, the quarter’s busy Aachener Straße is normally filled with outdoor seating and happy diners. Looking for where to eat in Cologne in summer? Head to Brüsseler Platz for al-fresco drinking on the square.

Getting to the Belgian Quarter: U Bahn stops Rudolfplatz and Friesenplatz or Köln-West train station

Top choice: Herr Pimock is probably my favourite restaurant in the whole of Cologne. Great bar, free wifi and a good menu of German (amazing Flammkuchen) and not-so-German staples (think tapas, salads and burgers).

Herr Pimock: a classic. Herr Pimock has a great relaxed feel with a menu that will please everyone. You’ll definitely want to stay for a few glasses of wine after your meal.

Beef Brothers: a fast-food Imbiss burger joint, but definitely one of the best. People are normally queueing out of the door for this place.

Bay Area Burrito: just a short walk from the Belgian Quarter, this American-run place has the best burritos in Cologne (in my humble opinion). They do an ever-changing burrito of the month, which is normally pretty amazing.

L’Osteria: part of a chain but surprisingly good, L’Osteria serves up very good Italian food and is definitely in my top 5 restaurants in the city. The Gnocchi gamberetti is my go-to and is great if you love juicy prawns in a creamy sauce. The pizzas are gigantic and also great for sharing. Book ahead on Friday/Saturday evenings.

Warung Bayu: my good friend and resident Cologne food Denise introduced me to this Indonesian restaurant recently and we’ve been back several times since – they have great veggie options and most mains are big enough to share. #265 is an absolute WINNER – tofu as you’ve never tasted in satay sauce. (There’s also a hidden courtyard which is great in summer.)

NENI: located on the top floor of Cologne’s sparkling new 25Hours Hotel, NENI offers the best restaurant views in the city. What it also offers is the best Israeli food in town. The Sabich with falafel is absolutely immense – fried aubergine, humus, soft-boiled organic egg, tomato salsa and Har Bracha tahina with amba. You can also order a selection of Mezze options as a starter – great for groups. Booking ahead is essential, but if it’s booked out, you can order a select amount of dishes to Monkey Bar on the same floor.

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Where to eat in the south of Cologne: Severinstraße, Südstadt & Zülpicher Straße

This area is probably one of my favourite places to go out for dinner, just for the sheer amount of choice. However, the Südstadt doesn’t have many tourist sites so you aren’t likely to pass through without making a special detour – but that in itself is probably reason enough to check out the area.

How to get to the Südstadt: U Bahn stops Severinstraße or Chlodwigplatz. For Zülpicher Straße, use the U Bahn stop Zülpicher Platz or take the train to Köln-Süd train station.

Top choice: the pizzas at 485 Grad come with the special seal of approval from every Italian I know. Go for Hellboy for a spicy-sweet meat feast or Popeye Pie for a cheesy veggie option.

Die Fette Kuh: this place is beyond famous for its burgers, which are easily the best in Cologne. Seating is very limited (which is probably part of the appeal) so expect to wait for a table.

485 Grad: the best Neapolitan pizzas outside of Italy I’m told (and I believe it, too). The Bufalina Mozzarella is my favourite pick – it sounds boring but it is ridiculous refreshing and I’ve never had anything as good! Hellboy is also a great choice if you like a a combination of sweet and salty – it’s Chorizo lathered in sweet and sticky chilli-honey sauce. They have a healthy choice of craft beer, too.

Sushiteria: simple but great sushi and Asian dishes. Think Wagamama on a small scale.

La Esquina: a really nice option for tapas in a bustling little restaurant. It’s located opposite a church square for the fully authentic European vibe.

Casita Mexicana: a small chain originating in Düsseldorf, this place does some very good Mexican dishes and even better frozen margaritas.

Habibi: this is without a doubt the best Lebanese in Cologne. The interior is colourful and hectic and the food is amazing. Not somewhere to linger long, this is a great place for grabbing a quick platter with a healthy helping of hummus and pitta, before heading out – maybe to Off Broadway, next door?

LOUIS Breakfast Club: the latest addition to Cologne’s growing brunch scene, LOUIS is a very popular location for students and instagram influencers alike (so book in advance). The breakfasts are beautiful and varied – you can tuck into various takes on the classic Eggs Benedict, including Mexican style (with tasty guacamole and pica de gallo). Owned by the same guys as St. Louis below.

The best restaurants near Cologne Messe/Deutz

If you’re looking for a restaurant close to Köln Messe (Cologne Trade Fair), then you’re looking for a restaurant in Deutz. This is my neck of the woods and whilst often overlooked, this neighbourhood is pretty up-and-coming.

Getting to Deutz: Köln Messe/Deutz train station or U Bahn stop Deutzer Freizeit from the centre on lines 1, 7 and 9.

Top choice: grab a huge salad from St. Louis and you won’t go hungry all day – this place is amazing and cannot be overstated. My second top tip would be to avoid the overpriced and bland Café Especial, which gets more than its fair share of visitors thanks to its location.

St. Louis: my absolute favourite café in Cologne. St. Louis has great bagels, pastries, cakes, coffee, incredible salads (make your own), free wifi, friendly staff, free water and crushed ice smoothies in summer. Everyone I’ve brought here has asked to come back. No excuses – just go.

Heimisch: another little café on the Deutzer Freiheit, Heimisch has a more hipster interior and serves up some good quiches, salads and pastries.

Antik Brauhaus: if you want to traditional German experience, you can’t go far wrong with Antik Brauhaus. They serve up schnitzel in about 15 different varieties and the dining/bar areas are a bit more separate here than in other typical pubs. There’s still a good atmosphere but you’ll have a bit more space. My Dad loved the kitsch decor.

Lommerzheim: somewhere else I haven’t tried for myself (but not for lack of trying), this traditional Kölsch pub is famous and is reportedly one of the best German restaurants in Cologne, so it gets an honourable mention. It’s normally pretty busy but worth trying your luck to see what the fuss is about.

Hotel Lux: who doesn’t like a Soviet-themed restaurant? HotelLux has a special place in my heart thanks to its good Russian cuisine and kitschy décor.

Mongo’s: a classy, buffet-style, all-you-can-eat restaurant specialising in exotic types of fare like zebra, ostrich or kangaroo (but also offering chicken, prawns and beef too).

Got a favourite restaurant in Cologne? Comment below and I’ll try to check it out.

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